Join Institute of Human Origins researchers for a year-long “master class” in human origins research as they illuminate the many facets of how we “became human” and what that means for the future of humans on the planet.
In-person—Auditorium (107), Walton Center for Planetary Health
All lectures begin at 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Each monthly lecture will be posted on the third and fourth Thursday of each month
Online—YouTube (youtube.com/@ASUInstituteofHumanOrigins)
All lectures are free and open to the public.
Monthly Lecture Series Schedule
February 8 Exploration and Discovery in the Field and the Lab
Gary Schwartz
The importance of field and laboratory research
Helen Elizabeth Davis
The responsibility and impact of engaging living communities in field research
March 14 Common Origins–Shared Future
Sarah Mathew
How contemporary human populations have adapted to the semi-arid savanna
Sarah Mathew will present two studies based on Turkana pastoralists in Kenya that highlight how our cultural capacities have shaped behavior and psychology in the context of cooperation and conflict.
Denise Su
Savannas and Hominin Evolution
The environmental pressures that early hominins experienced in savannas have long been considered the driving force of many hominin adaptations from bipedalism to brain enlargement to tool use. Denise Su will introduce us to the environments of the earliest hominins and how (or if) they impacted our evolution.
April 11 Meet Your (Nonhuman Primate) Cousins
Ian Gilby
Understanding chimpanzees: the essential role of long-term studies
Ian Gilby will use case studies to demonstrate how long-term studies are critical for understanding the complex social relationships of one of our closest living relatives, and for providing clues about the behavior of early hominins. He will highlight the Jane Goodall Institute’s Gombe Research Archive and database, which are housed at IHO, and curated by his team.
Kevin Langergraber
The challenge of protecting chimpanzee communities
Many of the world's primates face extinction. In this talk, Kevin Langergraber will discuss the threats to wild chimpanzees, and his work in protecting them as co-director of the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project in Kibale National Park, Uganda.
May 2 Our Ancient DNA
Anne Stone
What does ancient DNA tells us about human adaptation?
Tom Morgan
Experimenting with human evolution
Summer break—Online only
June 28 Donald Johanson
A connection to the natural world
(posted on Johanson's birthday)
July A Unique and Cooperative Genus
Joan Silk (posted to YouTube on July 11)
Evolution of communication and cooperation: Children and primates
Kim Hill (posted to YouTube on July 25
Origins of human uniqueness among the life forms on Earth
August A Creative and Innovative Species
Rob Boyd (posted to YouTube on August 8)
What is cumulative culture?
Katie Ranhorn (posted to YouTube on August 22)
From Stone Tools to Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technological Evolution and Human Uniqueness
In-person lectures resume
Sept 12 Human Adaptability to a Changeable Planet
Chris Campisano
Climate and human evolution
Charles Perreault
Human adaptation through technology/archaeology and culture
October 10 African Rift Valley
Kaye Reed
Large collaborative science projects
Denise Su
Discoveries that changed the story of human evolution: hominins from Woranso-Mille, Hadar, and Ledi-Geraru
November 2024
Curtis Marean
The great human diaspora
New York City Lecture
Donald Johanson—Lucy’s Legacy
December 5 Lucy 50—A Year in Review
Yohannes Haile-Selassie
IHO’s exciting future